A young woman was seated in an armchair sewing. At their arrival she gave a cry of sheer delight and rose to her feet with some difficulty.

“Ulric, you are here earlier than I expected!” she exclaimed. “I am so glad to see you.”

Lord Dorrington walked across the room to his sister’s side and kissed her gently on the cheek.

They were not in the least alike, for, while Lord Dorrington was classically handsome, Elizabeth Wardell had a kind of elfin loveliness that could better be described as pretty rather than beautiful.

“I have brought you Alyna,” Lord Dorrington said. “As I told you in my note she is beset with difficulties and needs your help.”

“I am so glad that I can be of assistance,” Elizabeth Wardell said with a warm smile.

After drinking a glass of wine, Lord Dorrington announced that he was returning immediately to London.

“I have already explained to Alyna,” he said to his sister, “that we must not risk anyone commenting on my absence. It seems unlikely and yet our names might be connected by some remote and unexpected coincidence.”

“How could that be?” Alyna asked.

“One never knows,” Lord Dorrington replied. “Someone might have seen us together at the ball last night and prying eyes might have perceived me leaving St. George’s Church at one moment and you the next.”

“St. George’s Church?” Elizabeth asked in perplexity.

“Alyna has strange ideas of suitable meeting places,” Lord Dorrington said, his eyes twinkling. “She is not as you might expect, Elizabeth, and I have the feeling that you two will like each other.”

“I am sure we shall,” Elizabeth Wardell said with a note of sincerity in her voice.

Then, linking her arm in her brother’s, when he had said goodbye to Alyna, she walked with him to the front door.

“I will look after her for you,” she said quietly as he put on his hat at an angle and picked up his gloves.

“Please do that!” Lord Dorrington replied, “And wash her hair.”

His sister looked at him in astonishment, but before she could ask him what he meant, he had climbed into his curricle and with a wave of his hand had driven away.

Elizabeth Wardell walked back into the house. She moved slowly because the child she was carrying was heavy and she was not at any time a very strong person.

Alyna was waiting for her in the salon.

“I did not come to the door,” she said as Elizabeth returned. “I felt that perhaps your brother would wish to speak to you alone.”

“He never tells me any secrets,” Elizabeth replied with a smile. “But I love him. He is one of the most charming men in the whole world. I am so proud of him too.”

“Proud of him?” Alyna asked, her eyes surprised.